On August 14, 1989, a Piper PA-38-112 (registration N2469F) operated by Golden Eagle Enterprises, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near Fresno, CA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a simulated forced landing practice, which resulted in an impact with the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A Piper PA-38 crashed on the runway after the pilot attempted to practice a forced landing during takeoff, resulting in damage when the aircraft struck the ground at low altitude.
What happened
The incident occurred during the takeoff phase of flight while the pilot was conducting training exercises. Specifically, the pilot was practicing for a forced landing scenario. As the Piper PA-38 climbed to an altitude of approximately 75 feet above the runway, the pilot closed the throttle to simulate engine failure.
At this point, the airspeed of the aircraft was low. To address the insufficient speed and prevent a stall, the pilot lowered the nose of the aircraft to increase airspeed. However, the aircraft remained too close to the ground during this maneuver. Consequently, the aircraft crashed onto the runway surface.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a simulated forced landing practice, which resulted in an impact with the runway.